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Rating: 
Summary: Inadequate in too many areas
Review: Johanson acknowledges the fact that Mormonism has a number of critics, yet he believes that this religion is true. He writes on page 8, ?There are those who are hostile to the Mormon Church, who claim that Mormons worship Joseph Smith. [straw man logical fallacy: he should name just one person who claims this] This is not so. There are those who claim that Mormons worship Mormon. [again, name somebody] This is not so. There are those who claim that Mormons do not worship Jesus Christ and therefore are not Christians. This is certainly not so, as Mormons are committed, dedicated Christians who see themselves as having been ?born again? at Baptism, and as taking upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ, and who believe that there is no other way to salvation except through the grace and Atonement, sacrifice and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.?
Despite Johanson?s supposed background in Presbyterianism, Congregationalism, and Methodism, his book is highly disappointing. First of all, his answers to many of the questions are short and don?t really scratch below the surface. It appears that he makes a conscientious effort to not cite additional resources, rarely quoting from anything except an occasional biblical or other Standard Works passage. (I doubt that there are more than two dozen references in its 226 pages.)
One example of his short, inadequate answers appears on page 83 as he responds to a question on Mormon archaeology. It is a good question and deserves a thoughtful response. Instead, Johanson offers less than a hundred words insinuating that there have been plenty of archeological finds in South America, Persia, and the Middle East that somehow support the Book of Mormon. Yet he does not provide a shred of evidence. Earlier, however, he had said that when it comes to Book of Mormon archaeology, ?Mormons believe that God will intentionally withhold such hard evidence from mankind, just to test (or ?prove?) their faith.? (p. 23) Can such a claim really be taken seriously?
When responding to the question ?What?s the difference between Protestant denominations and the Mormons?? Johanson refers to a common Mormon idea that the Bible was changed sometime in the Middle Ages and somehow ?practices that were not the original practices? were introduced (p. 28). Because the Bible is incomplete and improperly edited, he recommends the Book of Mormon ?to clarify some of the more confusing or incomplete passages from the Bible.? (p. 12) Again, he doesn?t provide anything more than personal opinion to support his claims. This is a trait common throughout the book.
Johanson often uses ?doublespeak? in his answers. This is common with many Mormons who apparently hope that those who are not LDS?especially evangelical Christians?may casually gloss over and minimize differences. His goal, it is clear, is to have the reader think that Mormonism is synonymous with Christianity.
Finally, Johanson often uses pejorative adjectives to describe those who dare make the audacious claim that Mormonism is not a Christian religion. One overused moniker is ?anti-Mormon,? a word that must have been utilized by Johanson in excess of a hundred times throughout the book?s pages. For example, in his response to the question ?Do Mormons ever participate in Bible study groups?? he says that while Mormons study the Bible, ?Mormons would usually be unwelcome if fundamentalists, evangelicals, or anti-Mormons were also in the group.? (p. 49) In other word, if you are not ecumenical, then?take your pick?you must be a narrow-minded fundamentalist, evangelical, or anti-Mormon (or maybe you?re all three!) who discriminates against LDS ?Christians.?
He raises the war flag when it comes to rhetoric about those he feels are ?angry and hostile toward Mormons? and ?fundamentalist Christian groups (including some Southern Baptists and other evangelical groups) that are quite hostile toward Mormons.? He concludes this section by insinuating their miscommunication is on purpose, saying, ?Anti-Mormons are also quite quick to (intentionally?) misinterpret and miscommunicate many of the simple beliefs that Mormons hold, by trying to claim that Mormons believe in the Book of Mormon and not the Holy Bible; that Mormons believe Joseph Smith was someone to worship instead of Jesus Christ; and other such misrepresentations.?
There are, he claims on page 35, few sincere Christians. He writes that ?many people visit a few churches and decide which to attend, based on who else is there, or if they like the minister, or if the sermons are good (or short), or if they would like to join the choir, or what time of day the Sunday services are held, and so on, and that?s the basis of their decision. Those approaches are not true for Mormons.?
The Mormon Church, he adds, ?has a much more comprehensive and defined set of doctrines than do most Christian denominations.? Nothing like setting the stage to make non-LDS churchgoers look superficial and even sinful. Even Christian bookstores are part of the conspiracy against Mormons because, on page 11, he criticizes them for not carrying Mormon ?scholarly? works ?for they view them as false and un-Christian. The only Mormon-related materials in most Christian bookstores are anti-Mormon materials.? The question is, how many evangelical Christian books do the Deseret and Seagull bookstores carry?
Overall, I cannot recommend this book. It does not offer any adequate answers to the 150 questions posed. I would suggest Johanson go back to the drawing board, eliminate his use of logical fallacies, and do a little research that would involve more than just his mere opinion. Until he does this, his book wastes both paper and, if read, the reader?s time.
Rating: 
Summary: In response to the so-called "lifelong Mormon"
Review: Just a word of caution to people reading these reviews- the person who wrote claiming to be a lifelong Mormon and stating that Mormons believe that God (Elohim? Never heard Heavenly Father referred to in those terms anywhere) had physical sex to conceive Jesus and that He has multiple wives is lying. The Mormons do believe in a Mother in Heaven (not Mary). What this person who claims to be LDS is stating is a gross misrepresentation of the LDS faith. Perhaps they should do more research than just watching The God Makers in their anti-Mormon church meetings...
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent source to find answers to questions you have
Review: This book was an excellent source for me, in anwsering the questions that I had about Mormonism, and it a way that didn't make me talk to their missionaries or be embarrised to ask my mormon friends. As it was written by someone raised in another faith I think I has a very straightforward writing style that helps the reader understand their true beliefs.
Rating:
Summary: Solid Answers to Basic Questions
Review: Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about Mormonism. As the fastest growing major religion in the United States, it has been subjected to an onslaught of criticism. Many simply want to know what Mormonism is all about. If that is the case for you -- I strongly recommend this book.Unfortunately, if you take a cursury look at reviews of books that attempt to express the Mormon belief system from the viewpoint of the believer, one finds many "reviewers" that have dedicated their lives to negative inuendo and disinformation about the Mormon faith. A number of reviews of this book are no exception. But here is the real benefit of this book -- it presents the Mormon belief system without proselitizing any point of view. Missionaries in white shirts and ties won't show up at your door after reading it. So called "Christians" that wan't to call Mormon's non-Christians will not call to tell you are going to Hell for asking questions about Mormonism. In an accessible question/answer format -- it answers all of those questions you had about Mormonism but were afraid to ask. The book is written by an active member of the LDS church. It gives a clear picture of how Mormons see the world. It is published by a major press (St. Martins). The author and publisher have covered their bases and offer an honest, succinct account of Mormonism. The result is a book that presents Mormonism honestly, clearly and with a sense of humor. In the end, you -- the reader, are left to decide the matter for yourself. There is no discussion of who is right and who is wrong (can those arguments ever be won?) I highly recommend this book as an introduction into what Mormons believe.
Rating:
Summary: Solid Answers to Basic Questions
Review: Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about Mormonism. As the fastest growing major religion in the United States, it has been subjected to an onslaught of criticism. Many simply want to know what Mormonism is all about. If that is the case for you -- I strongly recommend this book. Unfortunately, if you take a cursury look at reviews of books that attempt to express the Mormon belief system from the viewpoint of the believer, one finds many "reviewers" that have dedicated their lives to negative inuendo and disinformation about the Mormon faith. A number of reviews of this book are no exception. But here is the real benefit of this book -- it presents the Mormon belief system without proselitizing any point of view. Missionaries in white shirts and ties won't show up at your door after reading it. So called "Christians" that wan't to call Mormon's non-Christians will not call to tell you are going to Hell for asking questions about Mormonism. In an accessible question/answer format -- it answers all of those questions you had about Mormonism but were afraid to ask. The book is written by an active member of the LDS church. It gives a clear picture of how Mormons see the world. It is published by a major press (St. Martins). The author and publisher have covered their bases and offer an honest, succinct account of Mormonism. The result is a book that presents Mormonism honestly, clearly and with a sense of humor. In the end, you -- the reader, are left to decide the matter for yourself. There is no discussion of who is right and who is wrong (can those arguments ever be won?) I highly recommend this book as an introduction into what Mormons believe.
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